Ascent of The Cheviot on 2010-11-21

Ascent Trip Report

I flew a few hours early to a business meeting near Newcastle in the hope of fitting in a quick walk. Although the weather was not promising, I drove up the narrow road to Langleeford to find the cloud base around 600m and the snowline slightly lower.

As I climbed steadily upwards, squally showers swept by, firstly as rain, then hail, and finally snow. On top it was mercifully frozen, allowing for quicker than normal progress. The stone path laid across the summit plateau bogs was fortunately just visible under the snow. Just as well since a waist deep bath in a bog-flavoured slush-puppie didn't appeal. On the way back down, I avoided the bogs by heading cross-country directly for Langleeford House, still getting quite wet in the slush. The track back down the valley ran beside a swollen, angry river, which was not fordable at North Middleton in the car. The alternative through Wooler was luckily still fine, even in the now heavy and persistent rain.